Written and Illustrated by Steve Beam Hardbound, 256 pages, 100 illustrations

Since the first volume was published in 1993, the Semi-Automatic Card Trick series has become the largest and most reliable resource for professional caliber, non-sleight of hand card magic. Full-time magicians and conjuring hobbyists alike have come to rely on the creative card magic stored in these volumes when they want to go for the jugular.

In addition to fifty items of his own creation, the author has brought together over two dozen of his friends from around the world who have contributed fifty of their pet effects to this volume. This is high-octane, low-fat, innovative card magic built from the ground up. These effects feature the latest in card trick technology incorporating new principles and little-known subtleties.

Whether you want to out-magic your fellow magicians or fry the synapses of your lay audiences, this is real magic for the real world.

“I’ve just read this dense book, chock full of content, well written and well conceived, and I know that the other four volumes are destined for my library.” David Regal, Genii, August 2004.

“The Semi-Automatic series overall could be considered as a course in self-help. For those who simply like a good read and a few tricks, Steve Beam is an entertaining writer and a creative conjurer, with a finely honed sense of quality control. It’s all good stuff. As Steve frequently points out, if you take out a move and substitute a subtlety, then you have to up your presentation a bit. Aspects of presentation are therefore well covered throughout the book. Patter themes abound, designed to disguise the semi-automatics.” Al Smith, Abracadabra.